Guide

Are hotel jacuzzis clean? What guests say, and what to do

We read Google's review topics for 1,858 hotels with a jacuzzi room: 37% of comments about the hot tub are negative. Here is what goes wrong and how to check your tub.

What guests complain about

Mostly a tub that is out of order, slow to fill, cold, or not cleaned. Some comments are about a pool hot tub at the same hotel, so read the share as a rough guide.

Five steps before you get in

  1. Look at the water line and jets for residue.
  2. Fill it a few inches above the jets with hot water, run the jets for two minutes, then drain.
  3. Wipe the surface and refill.
  4. Skip bath oils and bubble bath in jetted tubs: they foam and clog the jets.
  5. If anything looks wrong, call the front desk before you get in.

Private hot tubs on a deck

A hot tub that stays full should be treated like any spa: ask when it was last serviced, and expect a cover that you remove yourself.

Questions

Are jetted tubs harder to clean than hot tubs?

The pipes behind the jets can hold old water. That is why a flush with hot water before use is worth two minutes.

Are in-room tubs cleaner than pool hot tubs?

An in-room tub is drained after each guest; a shared hot tub is not. Both depend on the hotel.

Tub rooms worth booking

A few standouts from our lists, ready to check for your dates.

More guides